Collapsible table of the type having a table top and foldable legs



May 20, 1958 W. J. DOBKIN COLLAPSIBLE TABLE OF.. THE TYPE HAVING A TABLE TOP AND FOLDABLE uses Filed Aug. 19, 1955 1 Z24 ATTO RN EY of Fig. 3 but shown on a larger scale; and

nited States CULLAPSLE TABLE OF THE TY PE HAVING A TABLE T0]? AND FOLDAELE LEGS The present invention relates to collapsible tables.

One object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible table, which can be folded into a compact unit and stacked with similar folded tables into close assemblage for storage, which can be folded for collapse or set up by simple manipulation, which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which has elements, forming part of the means by which the table may be collapsed and set up, arranged and constructed to impart structural strength and rigidity to the table top and'to contribute to the decorative appearance of the table when set up.

In accordance with certain features of the present invention, the table comprises a flat table top with a rail extending along each of its side edgesand a pairof bars on each side of the table top pivotally connected together intermediate their ends to define cross-legs. One of the legs of each pair has a fixed pivot' connection to one edge of the table top near one end, and the other leg is pivotally connected to a runner slidable along the correspending rail from a collapsed position near the fixed pivot to a set-up position near the other end of the table top. When the table is collapsed, the two pairs of crosslegs flanking opposite sides of the table top lie close to and in the plane of the table top. In this condition, the

table is flat and thin with no parts projecting from either surface of the table top and will consequently stack compactly and closely against other similar collapsed tables, assuming that the table forms part of a set.

The rails serve not only as guides for the leg runners as described, but also serve as a raised rim or lip for the table top, impart rigidity to the table top without adding materially to the thickness thereto; and also add to the decorative appearance of the table.

As a further feature, the four legs are formed by two U-shaped bars, having their adjoining sides pivotally connected together for cross extension in set-up position, and nesting one closely inside the other in collapsed position. The connecting end pieces between these sides impart rigidity to the legs and serve as a means by which the collapsed table can be suspended from a wall for storage. 1

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of the table embodying the present invention and shown in collapsed condition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table and shows in full lines the table in extended set-up position and in dgt and dash lines the table in collapsed condition; 6

Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of part of the table showing the connections of a pair of legs on one side of the table top to said table top;

Fig. 4 is a detail section of the table taken on lines 44 Fig. 5 is a detail section of the table taken on lines 55 of Fig. 1 but shown on a larger scale.

atent 0 Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown applied to a table in the form of a cocktail, coffee or snack table, which may form part of a set designed to be stored when the tables thereof are collapsed, and which may be set up alongside of a chair for cocktails, food or the like. These tables, for example, may have a top of about 12" x 16" and when set up, may be about 17 inches high. However, the invention is equally applicable to any other types of table, where it may be desirable to collapse the table for convenient storage.

The table comprises a fiat table top it), which may consist of a sheet 11 of plywood having a finishing coating i plastic material, such as Bakelite (phenolic). This table top 10 is rectangular in shape except perhaps for rounded corners, and around the edge of said table top is secured a moulding strip 13 shown in the form of a channel, made for example, by extrusion from aluminum, and receiving the marginal sections of the table top. The edging strip 13 is generally of C cross-section and has upper and lower similar curved sections 14 straddling the border of the table top 10 with the edges 15 of these sections seated against the opposite surfaces of said table top and merging with unbroken curvature into an inwardly curved intermediate section 16. The opposite sides 17 of this edging strip 13 serve as pivot supporting means and as rails for the legs, as will be more fully described.

To afford ease in assembling, the edging strip 13 consists of two separate complementary U-shaped sections 20 and 21 of difierent lengths having their opposite ends 22 in confronting relationship near one end of the table top on the sides of said table top. The longer strip section 20 is connected to the table top 10 by means of nails 23.

"For supporting the table top 10 in elevated position, there are provided two round' U-shaped bars 24 and 25 of generally rectangular shape, dimensioned to permit one of said bars to nest into and lie close to the other bar in the plane thereof, and the smaller inner bar 24 to straddle the table top 10 in the plane of-said table top and to lie close thereto, in collapsed condition of the table, as shown in Fig. 1. This inside bar 24 has side legs 26, each widely angled inwardly towards an apex or knee 27 and a connecting end section 28 between said legs and the outside bar 25 has side legs 30, each inwardly angled parallel to the corresponding leg 26 of the inside bar towards an apex 31, and a connecting end section 32 between said outer legs. The two legs 26 and 30 on each side are pivotally connected together by means of a pivot 33 extending diametrically through'the inner leg 26 and having a collar 34 integral or otherwise atfixed thereto and located between the two legs. The inner end of the pivot pin 33 is upset against the inner leg 26 to connect permanently the pin to this inner leg and the outer end section 35 of said pin projecting beyond the collar 34 extends radially into the outer leg 30 with a free snug rotative fit.

With the two bars 24- and 25 constructed as described, they can be collapsed into a single plane in the plane of the table top 10, as shown in Fig. l, and in this collapsed condition, the apices 27 of the side legs 26 will be close to the corresponding sides 17 of the edging strip 13, the two legs 26 and 30 will be spaced only somewhat sufii- 5 ciently to permit the two bars to be relatively displaced angularly and freely about the axes of the pivot pins 33 when setting up the table, and the two connecting sections 28 and 32 at one end of the side legs 26 and 30 will be spaced a substantial distance from the corresponding end of the table top 10. In this collapsed condition of the table, the outer legs 30 at their other ends will project outwardly beyond the inner legs 26 sufficiently 3 to permit these ends of the outer legs to be pivotally connected to the sides of the table top through the edging strip 13, as will be more fully described.

For connecting the outer legs 30 to the table top 10, there are provided two brackets to, each in the form of a channel, curvedly shaped at the top and bottom to conformably embrace the edging strip 3 at the top and bottom with a slide fit for assembly, but having an intermediate fiat section 41 spaced from the inwardly curved intermediate section 16 of said edging strip to define. a space 42 therebetween to receive the head of a pivot for the outer leg, as will be more fully described. These brackets 40, which are desirably made of metal matching the metal of the edging strip 13, as for example of aluminum are located near one end of the table directly opposite each other and are fastened to the shorter section .21 of the edging strip 13 and to the table top 10 by screws 44. The brackets 4t extend across the opposed ends 22 of the edging strip 13 to cover and conceal the junctures between these ends.

To form fixed pivot connections between the bracket 40 and the ends of the outer legs 3i respectively, the outer end of each of these legs is offset inwardly towards the table top 10 and has integral therewith or otherwise afi'ixed thereto a reduced stepped neckv 46 with a collar 47 integral therewith fitting snugly in a hole ll-'5 in the intermediate flat section 41 of the bracket, and this neck beyond said collar passes with a snug fit through a flat bearing disc 50 located between said intermediate bracket section 41 and the edging strip 13 and connected to said collar by the upsetting of the end of this neck against the disc. With this construction, the outer U-bar 25 defining the outer side legs. 30 may be swung angularly about aligned pivot axes fixed in relation to the table top 10.

The inner legs 26 are pivotally and slidably connected to the edges of the table top It), and for that purpose, the outer end of each of these legs is oiiset inwardly towards the table top and is pivotally connected to a runner or slide 51. These runners or slides 51 are similar to the brackets 40 pivotally supporting the outer legs 30, the only differences being that the runners 51 are reversed in relation to the brackets 40 and are not afiixed to the table top by screws as in the case of said brackets 40 but are free to slide along the rail sides 17 of the edging strip 13. Also, the pivotal connections between the inner legs 26 and the runners 51 are the same as the pivotal connections between the outer legs 3i) and the brackets 40.

To limit the collapsing movements of the legs 26 and 30 into the plane of the table top it), and to limit the slide movements of the runners 51 along the side rails 17 in i set-up condition of the table, each of said side rails has on its upper side a tab 53 cut out and stamped outwardly therefrom to form a stop for the corresponding inner leg 26 when said inner leg reaches the plane of the table top, thereby preventing said legs from moving beyond said plane. It should be noted that the intermediate inwardly curved section 16 of the edging strip 13 conforms approximately in curvature to the circumferential curvature of the inner leg stock and the steps 53 are disposed opposite the apices 27 of the inner legs 36. These apices 27 of the inner legs 26 are located inwardly of the outer sides of the edging strip 13, and the legs 26 and 30 have sufiicient resiliency to cause said apices in the process of col lapsing the table to snap beyond the lower sections 14 of the strip and into the pockets defined by the intermediate inwardly curved section 16 of the edging strip 13, thereby causing said inner legs to be latched in said collapsed position. Slight pressure on the inner legs 26 through manipulation of the end connecting sections 28 and 32, will cause said legs to snap out of latch engagement with the edging strip 13.

The tabs 53 serve not only as stops to prevent the legs 26 and 30 from going beyond the plane of the table top- 10 in collapsed condition of the table, but are disposed in the path of the runners 51 near one end of the table top to serve as stops in the set-up condition of the table. The tabs 55 are for that reason so located as to stop the runners 51 at a distance from the adjacent end of the table top which is greater than distance of the brackets 4-!) from the opposite end of the table top, to permit the legs to be folded in the plane of the table top 10 for collapse or to be extended into position to support the table top in horizontal position.

The table can be easily assembled by first slipping endwise the brackets and runner 51 with the legs 26 and pivotally connected thereto, over the ends of the long strip section 21 This strip section 20 with attached brackets 4% and 51 drawn back suiiiciently to expose the end sections of said strip section, is slipped and fitted over a part of the edge of the table top it), and the nails 23 hammered through said exposed ends of the strip section and through the table top iii, to atfix the strip section 20 onto the table it). If desired, the brackets and 51 may be slipped over the strip section 20 after it has been afiixed to the table top by the nails 23. The shorter strip section 21 is then fitted ever the other part of the edge of the table top Ill and the brackets 40 drawn forward from the strip section over the ends of the strip section 21 to span the gap or juncture between the ends 22 of the two strip sections and 21. in this position of the strip section .21 and brackets 4-0, the screws 44 are applied by passing these screws through the brackets and through the strip section and threading into the table top it), thereby atfixing the strip section 21 onto said table top and at the same time aflixing the pivot brackets 40 to said strip section and to the table top. By means of the nails 23, the strip section 20 is afiixed to the brackets 40 and to the table top 20, and by means of screws 44, the strip section 21 is atfixed to said bracket and to the table top. The two strip sections 26 and 21, the brackets 40 and the table top i are thereby rigidly secured together and may be disassembled for repair or cleaning by a simple operation reversed from that of assembling described.

The operation of the table is believed apparent but is summarized herein. In collapsed position, the legs 26 and 36 are folded in the plane of the table top 10, with the apices 27 of the inner legs 26 latched into the pockets defined by the intermediate inwardly curved section 16, and limited in said planar position by the stops 53 and the runners 51 are located near or engaging the brackets 40. In this collapsed position, the end connecting sections 28 and 32 of the bars 24 and 25 defining the side legs 26 and 39, extend beyond the adjoining end of the table top in the plane thereof, and no parts project beyond the plane of the edged table top. The resulting collapsed structure is flat and thin and a number of these tables so collapsed may be stacked or placed face to face into a compact group and supported from the end connecting sections 28 and 32 of the bars 24 and 25 by hooks or nails on a wall. These end connecting sections 28 and 32 of the bars 24- and 2 5 also serve as handles by which the collapsed tables may be conveniently carried or manipulated into set-up position.

For setting up the table, the two bars 24 and 25 are pulled out of the plane of the table top 10 about the pivotal supports of said bars on the edge strip 13 and at the same time the inside bar 24 is swung out of the plane of the outside bar 25, to cause the runners 51 pivotally secured to said inside bar to slide from the brackets 40 along the rails 17 forming the sides of said edging strip. This operation brings the bars 24 and 25 down into crossed relationship, until the'runners 51 on the inside bar 24 reach the stops 53. In this position, the table is stably set up in horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

By reversing the operation described, the table can be collapsed for storage.

The edging strip-13 serves not only the utilitarian functions described but also serves as a raised rim-to prevent objects on the table top from sliding oif and also as a means for imparting structural rigidity to the table top. In addition, the edging strip 13 adds to the decorative appearance of the table.

The U-shaped construction of the bars 24 and 25 defining the legs 26 and 30 of the table, not only serve to present the connecting end sections 28 and 32, by which the collapsed table may be carried or supported from a wall hanger or manipulated into set-up position to cause movements of the two legs of each bar simultaneously, but also imparts rigidity to the side legs 26 and 3'8, prevents the digging of the lower ends of these legs into the floor, or covering thereof, and serves to retain the table against shifting movement across the floor.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A table comprising a flat table top, rails along and eyond the opposite extreme sides of said table top, a pair of legs on each side of said table top pivotally connected together intermediate their ends permitting said legs to be folded into substantially the same plane or extended into crossed relationship, one of the legs of each pair being pivotally connected to the corresponding extreme side of the table top near one end of the table for pivotal movement about a fixed axis in relation to said table top, and a runner pivotally connected to the other leg of each pair at one end and engaging the rail on the corresponding side of thetable top with a slide fit, permitting said runner to move from a position near said fixed axis near one end of the table top to a region near the opposite end of the table top, the two pairs of legs blanking the extreme sides of the table top, whereby the two legs on each side of the table top are permitted to extend in crossed relationship into table top supporting position or folded alongside of and beyond the corresponding extreme side of the table top substantially in the plane thereof.

2. A table comprising a table top, a channel strip around said table top with the edge of said table extending into said strip, the section of said strip along the sides of said table top serving as rails, a pair of legs on each side of the table top pivotally connected together at their intermediate sections for extension into crossed relationship for table top support or for collapse into the same plane, one of said legs of each pair having a pivotal connection at one end with said rail, and a runner pivotally connected to the other leg of each pair at one end and slidable along the corresponding rail, whereby said legs are permitted to be folded alongside of the table top into table collapsing position or extended into crossed position to support the table top.

3. A table as described in claim 2, wherein said channel strip extends beyond the upper face of the table top to form a raised rim therearound.

4. A table comprising a table top, a pair of rails secured to the extreme sides of the table top, a pair of U-shaped bars nesting one inside the other and having their side legs flanging the extreme sides of the table top, one of said bars having its ends pivotally connected to the opposite extreme sides respectively of the table tops, a pair of runners pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the other bar respectively and slidable along the opposite extreme sides of the table top, the legs of said bars on each side of the table top being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends, whereby said bars may be folded alongside of and beyond said table top in the plane thereof in collapsed position of the table top or extended into crossed position into table top supporting position, each leg of the inner bar being angled towards an apex, and the rails having conformations causing said apices to be latched to said rails automatically when said legs are collapsed in the plane of said table top.

5. A table comprising a table top, a pair of U-shapecl complemental edging strip sections of channel formation extending around and receiving the edge of said table top, said edging strip sections being of different lengths, whereby the junctures thereof are near one end of the table top, the sides of the strip sections defining rails, a pair of brackets embracing said strip sections at the junctures thereof with a slide fit and covering said junctures, means securing said brackets against slide movement along said strip sections, means securing the edging strips to the table top against separation therefrom, a pair of U-shaped bars nesting one inside the other and having their side legs flanking the sides of the table top, the outside bar having its side legs pivotally connected at one end to said brackets, and a pair of runners pivotally connected to the ends respectively of the legs of the other bar and slidable along the sides respectively of the longer edging strip section, the legs of said bars on each side of the table top being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends, whereby said bars may be folded alongside of said table top in collapsed position of the table top or extended into crossed position into table top supporting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 163,122 Wheeler May 11, 1875 291,525 Long Jan. 8, 1884 748,956 Johnson Jan. 5, 1904 1,994,364 King Mar. 12, 1935 2,114,912 Cox Apr. 19, 1938 2,288,737 Page July 7, 1942 2,581,023 Jerick Ian. 1, 1952 2,666,682 McCormick Ian. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 2,835,544 May 20, 1958 William J Dobkin It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 36, for R inlalanking read flanking column 6, line 6, for flanging read flanking Signed and sealed this 22nd day of July 1958.

(SEAL) Attest: KARL AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents 

